I am currently accepting submissions for my fourth annual “Reader Issue” writing contest! Today through October 31, 2015, I want you to send me something you’ve written, and I—along with two other judges—will pick three winners. Each of the three winners will have his or her winning submission published in my January 2016 e-newsletter (the “Reader Issue”) and will receive a $25 Amazon.com gift card and a paperback copy of a book (the list of books to choose from will be at the end of this post). I look forward to reading your entry and will notify the winners by email on or before January 1, 2016. Check out the rules below:

1. I will accept submissions August 1 through October 31, 2015. If you submit something after that date, it is not a valid submission and will not be considered for the contest. I will accept poems, short stories, creative nonfiction pieces, and articles. Whichever category you choose, your submission must be no longer than 4,000 words.

2. Whether you are five years old or 105, you are welcome to submit a piece for this contest. There are no age limits. Each person may submit up to two pieces (each individual piece can be up to 4,000 words).

3. If you were one of the winners who appeared in the January 2015 newsletter, you must take a year off. However, if you were one of the winners the first two years of the contest (meaning that your winning piece appeared in the January 2013 or 2014 newsletter), you are eligible to enter the contest again this year.

4. When you submit your piece, please send it to angela@angelabaconbooks.com. In the subject of your email, put “Reader Issue.” In the body of the email, list your name; home (or mailing) address; email address; phone number; and the title and category of your work (article, poem, short story, or creative nonfiction) and then provide the work as an attachment. Before you email me your piece, consider the following:

B. Did you follow directions regarding how to submit your piece—including your name, address, etc. in the body of the email?

C. Is your submission 4,000 words or fewer?

D. Is your submission appropriate? If you would rate it worse than PG, there is a strong possibility that much of my e-newsletter audience (which covers a wide range of ages and belief systems) will be offended, and I most likely will not print it.

E. Is it well-written? Did you spend a significant amount of time on it, or did you just throw it together in a few minutes?

F. Entertainment value—I am looking for something that holds my interest and will make me want to keep reading after the first page; or in the case of a shorter piece, it will make me want to keep reading after the first few lines.

Have any questions? Ask them in the comments below or email me at angela@angelabaconbooks.com, and I will gladly answer them. If you’d like to subscribe to my monthly e-newsletter, please visit the homepage of www.angelabaconbooks.com to submit your email address and sign up.